In Limoges, Aquitaine, St. Leonard, Confessor. He was a disciple of blessed Bishop Remigius. Born of a noble family, he chose the solitary life and was famed for his sanctity and miracles. He is especially noted for his effectiveness in the freeing of captives. – Roman Martyrology for November 7
St. Leonard is readily identified by his attribute, a set of shackles or fetters, either made partly of chain (as in the first image at right) or all of iron (as in the second).
The Golden Legend tells of several miracles in which prisoners were set free by the intercession of St. Leonard. Some gained their freedom even while Leonard was still alive, just by invoking his name. Portraits sometimes show the saint with not only his attribute but one or more prisoners praying to him (as in the first image at right) or being led out of prison by him. St. Leonard was a monk of the 5th century, so he is normally portrayed in a monastic habit, as in both images at right. One exception is this 15th-century fresco by Vincent de Kastav. As for narrative images, a pair of stained-glass windows in Regensburg presents fourteen vignettes from St. Leonard's life. Prepared in 2014 by Richard Stracke, Emeritus Professor of English, Augusta University. Revised 2016-12-23, 2018-06-02. |
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